Kalfin Resigns as Head of Bulgarian Delegation in S&D Group

Bulgarian MEPIvaylo Kalfin resigned on Monday as head of the Bulgarian delegation in the European Parliament’s S&D group.

Kalfin thus strongly reinforced rumors that he would head the EU election ticket of former PresidentGeorgi Parvanov’s left-wing project, ABV.

In a letter to Bulgarian Socialist Partyleader and PESpresidentSergey Stanishev, Kalfin said Monday he had been forced to make “an absurd choice” between his ideas and BSP’s governing body.

“As always, I have a clear and long-term answer to this dilemma. It will be in favor of the ideas,” the MEP said.

Parvanov’s Alternative for Bulgarian Renaissance (ABV) movement was declared "frozen" less than a year after its launch, but is now expected to be revived, triggering suspicions of an even deeper divide among the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Recent reports suggest that the first aim of ABV will be the elections for European Parliament in May, where the Movement will have a separate alternative left-wing ballot.Kalfin was Foreign Minister in the Three Way Coalition government of Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev , the current leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Kalfin became MEP on the BSP ballot, but is not a member of the party and has been very critical recently of its leadership. Kalfin was also BSP candidate for President in the 2011 elections.

ABV is expected to be joined by a number of other disgruntled Socialists, both in the party and those who have left it.

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